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Bicyclists rally against Black Hawk's ban on riding through town

Daniel Prutz, third from left, stands behind speakers at the Rally to End Bike Bans at the Capitol on Tuesday evening while Steve Rudolph holds a sign at left. (THE DENVER POST | LEAH MILLIS)

Ryan Brereton, 1, makes a face while his mom, Cami, adjusts his helmet as Steve Rudolph, left, writes a protest sign Tuesday evening before the start of the Rally to End Bike Bans at the Capitol. (THE DENVER POST | LEAH MILLIS)

Dozens of bicyclists peddled to the state Capitol Tuesday at a rally hosted by Bicycle Colorado to protest Black Hawk's ban on bicycling through most of the town's roads, the only such ban in the state.

The roads in Black Hawk's historic mining district are narrow and shoulderless. According to city officials, during summer months 30,000 motorists use its roads each day.

After town officials issued warnings to cyclists, three bicyclists who rode their bikes in June from Central City into Black Hawk became the first to be fined $68 each by police.

Since then, the mountain town's bike ban has enraged both novice and veteran bicyclists.

"You can't revoke my right to ride my bike," said Pete Laurina of Thornton, who rides 300 miles per week.

Cyclists use the road in Black Hawk to connect to the Peak to Peak Scenic Byway, a popular mountain road, but the ban forces them to walk their bikes one-half mile through town or make a 46-mile detour around the area by using Berthoud Pass.

"Honestly, dismount takes up a lot more space and cars have to increase their speed to pass me," Laurina said.

Many bike enthusiasts here and abroad are weighing in about the ban.

"We're hearing from bicyclists from England, Thailand to Australia who are asking how a city cannot let bicycles through," said Dan Grunig, executive director of Bicycle Colorado.